Ugh.

What about you?  What have you accomplished and what is still left to do?

I made the boring ole chocolate chip ones in the red and white tins. They are our go-to recipe now at home because DH loves soft cookies.

Ingredients:
3/4 c. unsalted butter, softened
3/4 c. brown sugar
1/4 c. granulated sugar
1 egg
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. all purpose flour
2 tsp. cornstarch
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. bittersweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2.  In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugars until fluffy and light in color. Add egg and vanilla and blend in.

3.  Mix in flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt. Stir in chocolate chunks.

4.  Using a standard-sized cookie scoop or tablespoon, drop dough onto a prepared baking sheet.  Bake for 8-10 minutes, until barely golden brown around the edges.  (The tops will not brown, but do NOT cook longer than ten minutes.)

5.  Let cool, on the sheet, on a wire rack for five minutes.  Remove from baking sheet and let cool completely. 

 My mom "accidentally" threw away the one we'd had in the family for over 100 years.  And I thought about buying a new one, but we're splitting Hanukkah between colorado and tucson...so I won't even be home for that.

In true Jewish fashion, I will buy one (from target-they have some really neat ones) after they go on sale when Hanukkah is over

Anyone?  Bueller?

We went in for my 39-week appointment and NST Thursday morning, and the baby looked great - heart rate went up with movement, plenty of movement, etc. - but my blood pressure was still creeping up. We had planned for me to get through the weekend and possibly induce on Monday, but my OB felt my blood pressure was high enough that waiting was a bigger risk - if I weren't as far along, I'd be on BP medication, but since I was full term the cure would be to have the baby. So, she called Rose and I was put on the schedule to be called in for cervix ripening between 5-6 pm Thursday, and then we'd begin the Pitocin induction Friday morning.

We've been packed for weeks, so we spent the day killing time - big lunch at Denver Diner, watching Hulu at home... and around 3 pm I decided to take a bath to relax before we headed in. I had been in there for maybe 45 minutes when I changed positions and felt a little spurt of liquid. Thinking I had peed in the water or something, I drained the tub and hopped on the toilet to pee. Once I finished, I pulled on some underwear, and as I stood up I felt another little spurt. I put a big ol' pad in a fresh pair of undies, and for the next 15 minutes I felt the spurt every time I went from sitting to standing. So, we called the on-call OB at Metro Ob/gyn and she told us to go ahead and make our way to Rose early. By the time we got to Emergency to check in, my jeans were pretty soaked. So - no cervix ripening for me!

I got settled into our room and the nurses let me know they'd check on me at 11 and, depending on how far along I was, they'd start the Pitocin. We walked around, I sat on the ball, I took a bath... and by 11 I was only 2-3 cm. I was hesitant to start the Pitocin, knowing the odds of more drugs and intervention down the road were high, so they started it on a tiny dose and slowly turned it up over the next five hours. The contractions were bearable and I was able to breath through them with DH's help - he was great and massaging and giving hip pressure as needed. 

Between 4 and 5 am, the contractions started to get a lot worse. They were only three minutes apart, so I was sure things were dilating like crazy. At 4:45, they checked my cervix - and I was only 4 cm. So, I asked for a low dose of Fentanyl to help take the edge of the contractions off. The first couple contractions on the Fentantyl definitely felt better, but they were still very intense. And after that, they basically felt the same way they did before the narcotic - like I was being ripped in half. We called my nurse back in after about 30 minutes, and she turned off the Pitocin completely and said that she could up the Fentanyl dosage, but we decided to just go ahead and get the epidural - since I was supposedly only 4 at this point and Fentanyl can't be used for long, I didn't want to risk not having anything as the pain got worse.

The anesthesiologist came in to administer the epidural, which didn't hurt at all. The hardest part was having to remain still for the 10-minute insertion process while I had four painful, intense contractions; Jason held my shoulders and I white-knuckled his shirt while my nurse talked me through the breathing. But man - epidurals are amazing. I almost immediately felt relief once the insertion was done. My nurse got the catheter ready and when she went to insert it she discovered the baby was really low because she didn't have as much space to work in as she expected. And then she checked my cervix - and in 45 minutes I had gone from 4 cm to TEN. So, going through transition while having an epidural inserted is SUPER-fun.

I also didn't really get to have much time with the epidural. They propped me up so the drugs could work their way down the crotch and legs, and my OB was planning for pushing to begin at 8 am. A little after 8, my nurse came in and helped me push through about a half-dozen contractions. I was starting to feel more pain with each contraction, so we figured I had a "window" where the epidural had failed, and they gave me a redose, which helped a ton. But then my doctor showed up - with the pushing, I had been pushing out a lot of blood, so they were worried something had ruptured and decided to use forceps to help Evan the rest of the way out. I only ended up pushing for about 45 minutes, and with two good pushes and the forceps he slid right out! 9:20 am, December 2nd, 20 inches long, 7 pounds 4 ounces. 

He got an 8-9 on his Apgar and was put on my chest right away while my OB sewed me up (I had a third-degree tear) and delivered the placenta. And now here we are, less than 36 hours later, having all sorts of fun bonding. Yay for babies!

Seriously, do the snow plows here only run E/W?  The snow had long since stopped by the time I left and the morning commute was beginning and the major roads clearly hadn't been recently plowed.  Sheesh.

DH and I have been perfect angels when it comes to food throughout the week. However, we can't seem to get through a weekend without going out for burgers once. This method seems to be working because I lost 2.4 lbs last week.  Exercise has been bad. I only ran last Tuesday and keep forgetting that we have an elliptical in the basement! I just think, "Oh, there's ice everywhere, I'm not running."  I also had Starbucks 3 times last week instead of the 1 time that I'm "allowed" to have it.

My goal this week is to work out more and keep doing a good job with food throughout the week. And less Starbucks.

howley shel at yahoo  (notice it's only 1 "L")

My company is expanding in Denver north, south and Springs and in search of candidates for part time positions. 

thanks

I have a cool mist humidifier and vapor rub (both the baby and adult kind). Do I just use those and accept that there isn't anything else I can do? Or can I actually give him something? 

A-thank you for doing the Nestie Awards this year!  I didn't get a goodbye hug so we have to gtg again soon!

Oh and to my Nestie family-I so appreciate the Best Hostess and Most Helpful awards!  I was surprized to be nominated with my in/outness of late here and I am gratified that I am still considered here for such attributes, it's an honor.  Some of the best friends I have were made from this board and I am forever grateful for it!

Oh, and last night I came home just after DH finished his long run.  He who asked me not to bring home cookies, grabbed the tupperware and scarfed about 6 before I could even say anything.  He thanks you all. 

Who is in the Target red.  And a Santa hat. 

And has a white beard and white hair.  And is a teeny bit overweight.  Now he doesn't look as great as some of the other Santas I've seen but it's a pretty uncanny resemblance.

Makes me giggle a little every time I see him that I got my cart from Santa.